The most defining image of the Republic Day parade was when the all-women contingent of the three armed forces marched down the Rajpath in Delhi when Barack Obama, US Former President visited India. The female officers have always found a way to distinguish themselves. Be it Commander Gutta Sowjanya Sree or Lieutenant Vartika Joshi, they have navigated through rough seas and have been a part of many expeditions.

With many such inspiring women in the ranks, the Indian Navy has inducted INSV Tarini, an all women crew boat, on Saturday. The “First Indian All Women Circumnavigation of the Globe” is slated to begin in August 2017 and will be sailed by this crew.

This ocean going sailboat was inducted in the presence of a host of dignitaries at a ceremony at INS Mandovi Boat Pool.

During the ceremony, Sunil Lamba, Chief of Naval Staff announced that the team had logged over 10,000 nautical miles on INSV Mhadei including a voyage from India to Mauritius and back, and Goa to Cape Town, braving heavy winds and rough monsoon seas.

The keel of the vessel was laid on 27 March 2016 at the Aquarius Shipyard, and the construction was diligently overseen by the Warship Overseeing Team in Goa. The trials were completed on January 30, 2017.

The Indian Navy is operating four sailboats- Tarangini, Mhadei, Sudarshini and Tarini- which are capable of open ocean deployments. These four vessels have been built at shipyards in Goa. The Navy is planning to induct four 40 feet, open ocean racing sailboats.